Begin again

As the sun fully sets and the sky turns a deep navy blue, Leah stretches with a dramatic groan. “Reckon you can give your girlfriend a piggyback back to the car?” she teases, nudging Alessia with her foot where they’re both sprawled out on the picnic blanket.

Alessia snorts, already shaking her head, but there’s no real protest. “You are so lazy.”

“Lazy and adorable,” Leah corrects, batting her lashes.

Alessia sighs in faux exasperation, but she’s already turning and crouching down. “C’mon then.”

Leah grins victoriously as she climbs onto Alessia’s back, arms wrapping around her shoulders, legs hooking around her waist. Alessia grips Leah’s thighs, adjusting slightly before setting off toward the car.

It’s distracting, really, the way Leah presses soft kisses against her neck, her jaw, even the side of her face when she turns slightly. Alessia shivers but does nothing to stop it, letting Leah be affectionate in the way she always is.

As they reach the car, Leah cups her jaw from behind, gently craning her head so she can press a kiss to the corner of her lips. Alessia grins, heat creeping up her cheeks, before carefully setting Leah back down on her feet. Without a word, she opens the passenger door for her, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.

Leah, ever the menace, grabs her by the hips, pulling her close and pressing a loud, smacking kiss to her lips before slipping inside with a wink. Alessia rolls her eyes, but there’s no missing the way she’s biting back a smile as she rounds the car to the driver’s side.

The drive home is peaceful, the roads quiet this late at night. Leah hums softly along to the music playing low through the speakers, one hand resting in her lap -until Alessia reaches over, placing her hand on Leah’s thigh, squeezing gently.

Leah stills for a moment, before placing her hand over Alessia’s, intertwining their fingers and squeezing back. Neither of them say anything about it, but the air between them feels warmer, lighter.

When they finally get home, they move in sync, tired from training and the day, but still wrapped in the comfort of each other. They strip down and step into the shower together, the warm water cascading over their skin.

Alessia stands behind Leah, fingers gently working through her hair, massaging shampoo into her scalp. Leah sighs contentedly, tilting her head back against Alessia’s shoulder. “M’gonna make you do this every night,” she mumbles.

Alessia chuckles, pressing a soft kiss to Leah’s damp shoulder. “Greedy.”

Leah hums, leaning into her. “You love it.”

They switch places, Leah washing Alessia’s hair with the same gentle care, before they both rinse off, their movements slowing until they’re simply holding each other beneath the spray. Leah’s arms are wrapped around Alessia’s waist, and Alessia rests her forehead against Leah’s, eyes fluttering shut as they soak in the quiet moment.

Eventually, they step out, drying off leisurely. Neither of them bothers with pyjamas as they slip into bed. Alessia rests her head on Leah’s bare chest, sighing softly as she drapes an arm over her stomach, fingertips grazing against her side. She nuzzles into the crook of Leah’s neck, inhaling the familiar scent of her.

Leah traces lazy patterns across Alessia’s back, the slow drag of her fingertips enough to make Alessia melt further into her. The exhaustion from the day settles deep in her bones, but wrapped up in Leah’s warmth, she doesn’t mind one bit.

“You did good today,” Leah murmurs, her voice thick with sleep. “With the whole picnic thing.”

Alessia grins against her skin. “Glad you think so. Thought I was gonna throw up at one point.”

Leah chuckles, the vibration humming against Alessia’s cheek. “Would’ve still said yes.”

Alessia lifts her head just enough to look at her. “Yeah?”

Leah’s smile softens. “Yeah.”

Something tender passes between them, something neither of them needs to put into words. Instead, Leah lifts a hand, brushing her knuckles along Alessia’s cheek before tugging her back in for another kiss -slow and deliberate, like she’s trying to memorize the feel of it.

Alessia sighs against her lips, content and safe in a way she hasn’t felt in a long time. When Leah pulls back, she rests their foreheads together, their breaths mingling in the quiet of their shared space.

“Go to sleep, Less,” Leah murmurs.

Alessia hums in response, pressing one last kiss to Leah’s collarbone before settling in. Leah’s arms tighten around her, holding her close, and soon, the steady rise and fall of her breathing lulls Alessia into sleep.

For the first time in forever, everything feels exactly as it should.

*

Alessia wakes up in the middle of the night to an empty bed.

The sheets beside her are cold, telling her that Leah’s been gone for longer than just a quick trip to the loo. Her brow furrows as she blinks the sleep from her eyes, pushing herself upright. The house is quiet, eerily so, and concern creeps into her chest as she swings her legs over the side of the bed.

She grabs the first shirt within reach,-Leah’s, she realises as she tugs it over her head- and pads barefoot across the room.

She checks the bathroom first, just in case, but the door is open, the light off. She frowns, stepping back out into the hallway.

Leah’s room is her next stop, though she already knows what she’ll find. The bed is still neatly made, untouched since the night Leah stopped sleeping there and started sleeping beside Alessia instead.

Worry gnaws at her stomach now as she moves downstairs, careful not to make too much noise. When she steps into the living room, she finds Leah curled up on the couch, arms folded over her chest, knees tucked in slightly. She’s wearing one of Alessia’s shirts, and her hair is slightly mussed, like she’s been tossing and turning.

The moment the floor creaks beneath Alessia’s weight, Leah’s eyes whip up, and there’s a flicker of something guilty in them.

Alessia crosses her arms, leaning against the doorway. “You just gonna leave me in bed alone like that?” Her voice is soft, teasing, but her concern is evident.

Leah sighs, rubbing at her eyes. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“And you didn’t wake me?” Alessia scolds, already moving toward the couch.

Leah scoffs lightly. “Didn’t see the point. You were sleepin’ fine.”

Alessia rolls her eyes, settling down beside her. “Yeah, well, I’d rather be awake with you than sleepin’ alone.” She shifts, laying down flat against the couch before patting her chest. “C’mere.”

Leah hesitates. “Less, I dunno if-“

“You don’t have to sleep,” Alessia assures her. “Just come here.”

Leah sighs but doesn’t argue further, shifting to lay down on top of her, her body sprawled completely over Alessia’s own.

Alessia presses a kiss to the top of Leah’s head, her arms wrapping tightly around her. She the slips both hands beneath Leah’s shirt, fingertips tracing slow, soothing circles over the warm skin of her back. She moves lazily, gliding up Leah’s spine, over her shoulders, then back down again, stopping just at the waistband of her underwear before repeating the motion.

Leah hums quietly, her body melting further into Alessia’s as she nestles her head into the crook of Alessia’s neck. One of her hands clutches at Alessia’s shirt by her face, while one of her legs curls up against Alessia’s side, tucking herself in as close as possible.

Alessia smiles, her nose brushing against the top of Leah’s head as she continues her gentle ministrations. Within ten minutes, Leah’s completely out, her breaths deep and even against Alessia’s chest.

Alessia waits a moment longer before carefully shifting, adjusting her grip so she can stand. Leah’s body is heavy with sleep, her legs hanging limply either side of Alessia’s waist, her head nestled into her shoulder. Alessia supports her effortlessly, arms beneath Leah’s thighs as she carefully makes her way back upstairs.

She just manages to see over Leah’s shoulder as she navigates through the dark, making her way to their room. Back in bed, Alessia sets Leah down first, moving slowly, carefully. Leah’s face scrunches up immediately, her body twitching slightly, clearly displeased with losing Alessia’s warmth.

Alessia hushes her quietly, climbing into bed beside her. She tugs Leah back into her arms, shifting her into the exact same position she’d been in on the couch.

Leah settles easily, sighing softly in her sleep as she burrows into Alessia’s chest.

Alessia presses a kiss to the top of Leah’s head, murmuring, “I love you,” against her hair, before slipping her hands beneath Leah’s shirt again, resuming the slow, soothing circles against her back.

Eventually, she drifts off, wrapped up in Leah, their breaths evening out together.